America vs. the Muslim world?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2004
America vs. the Muslim world?
16
Thu, 05-26-2005 - 9:57am
I don't know about everyone else, but there has been quite a bit of incidences lately of supposed "misunderstandings" between nations of the Muslim world and America that definitely concern me.
The Newsweek article, for one, really opened my eyes to something that has seemed to be going on for some time under the radar. Whether it is true or not, we ticked off alot of Afghanistan people to the point were there is much more hatred of American values.
It's a lose-lose situation for us because everything that comes out seems to be directed to all Americans and it seems like there is a start of an uprising against the American people and government. I don't know if it is a way for extremists to gain momentum for the Holy War they are plotting against America, or if Americans are at fault for not respecting their religious beliefs, but it makes me nervous.
Just like a certain amount of Americans are blaming all Muslims for the world's turmoil, it seems more Muslims are doing the same with us. This is very concerning to me because bad blood tends to cause wars and, if anything more happens, terrorism, wars, etc...are going to become more frequent.
How do you feel about this? Do you think we should do more to keep the peace because it seems our government tends to sugar coat the adversity between our nations. Besides the Newsweek article, there seems to more uprising in Iraq against our troops and it is starting to look like a domino effect. What would happen next?
I know this is a scary thought, but, being that we are a board of unity of many religions, I think it is important for us to discuss this. What makes you get along with no predjudice against others on the board who think differently than you? There may be a link to our little board that could save millions of Americans and Muslims from losing their lives over difference of religion.
I know this is a tough one, but, as I said before, it is really important. It's easy to turn away from issues that seem uncomfortable, but sometimes it is important to tackle and discuss them head on for peace and unity in this world. Like they say, just one person can make a difference!
Love and Blessings,
R-

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 05-26-2005 - 1:12pm

I am also concerned, but more about the people who are representing "Americans" in the world on


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2004
Thu, 05-26-2005 - 3:05pm
I agree with you totally! It is funny how in America, Muslims are mostly portrayed in a bad light...although the majority are peace loving people. You go to other countries and it's the exact opposite.
I hope I am just overreacting, but it seems that we are becoming the most hated country in the world over what a few people do or say (mainly in the government). The sad part is, until we have a more compassionate government in office again, not a group of people who seem to only go by what they believe (Christianity), nothing is going to change. I hope that people who voted for who is office now are starting to realize that this isn't working. We already know that this war started under false pretenses, and now we offend a Muslim nation that was cooperating with us because of ego.
Sadly, all this has become what it is over ego.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2004
Fri, 05-27-2005 - 3:06pm

I can't speak for muslim countries and others but I know that a lot of people in this country (UK) believe Americans to be arogant, egotistical and always having to go bigger and better than anyone else. I don't mean to offend anyone and I'm not saying that everyone feels that way, but that is the general concensus as far as I have heard. I'm sure that others have preconceived ideas about us Brits that are far from true for the majority of people and again most of this probably comes from the media. Many people felt that during the Iraq conflict Tony Blair was a mere puppet to Bush and that we should have been more firm in our politics and our stragies and stood up for ourselves. If any of you have seen the film Love Actually you will have seen that played out by Hugh Grant and Tommy Lee Jones in one part of the film.

I think that many see Americans as seeming to believe that they somehow have a god given right to impose their views and ways upon others without thought or consideration for what others believe in. Certainly that was true of the British during the last century when we colonised many parts of the world, so again I don't mean in any way to point the finger but I do think that a lot of 'PR' needs to be done between many countries to bring about peace, harmony and respect between nations. Unfotunately it doesn't look like the leaders of the countries are willing to do that and so it is up to ordinary people to somehow try to keep channels open and to remain open minded and loving towards other nations.

Carol

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 05-27-2005 - 3:40pm

Carol, I couldn't agree more! And I'm American!! Many in THIS country see the same things. The materialism is just appalling! You should see the houses being built in the next neighborhood over, HUGE! Every single house on every street in the development is monstrous. Not to mention the prices! Cars just keep getting bigger and bigger. Why does a couple with only one or two children need a vehicle that seats 9??? Certainly not for the gas efficiency. They're status symbols. It's ridiculous.

As for the politics, we see it too. And many are downright embarrassed. But I don't for one minute believe things would be much different if the last couple elections had gone the other way. I've got close friends in the military and know for a fact that this whole mess in Iraq started well before Bush got into office. It's not any one administration; it's an ongoing problem that's been around for a few generations at least. Not that that makes it any better.

Anyway, I really don't have any point. Just wanted you to know you haven't offended. Quite the opposite, many of us are saying the exact same things.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2003
Fri, 05-27-2005 - 5:00pm

I found the Newsweek retraction very disturbing. Should we blame the messenger for a situation our government should be addressing?...Granted, our media isn't perfect but it is one of our most cherished freedoms...there have been other reports about Guantanamo and its treatment of detained persons/prisoners...I read one account of female agents speading red jello on themselves so they could torture the Muslim guys into thinking it was menstrual blood...this is the United States??? What is going on there? Why doesn't our military get control of its own staff???

The first time I traveled outside the states, I was stunned by how well we live here...how spoiled we are...it is unfortunate that the rest of the world views Americans as greedy but I think we can all come up with reasons why this is so.

On the other hand, many people from overseas have benefitted from an education in American universities, and many have found sanctuary in our free country...I think you nailed it correctly when you used the word misunderstanding...it is a shame...we may have more in common with these people than not. I'm old enough to remember the Cold War..all those years of government propaganda to spread fear the Russians only to find out we are not so different after all.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Fri, 05-27-2005 - 5:39pm

I agree with most of what you said, except for this sentence:


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Fri, 05-27-2005 - 5:52pm

Carol,


I don't think you've offended anyone on this board.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 05-27-2005 - 5:54pm

I, too, am nervous.

The Newsweek article should have never been published without some vigorous investigation.
Now all h*ll is breaking loose. It's just the right ammunition that the Muslim radicals want to bring more hatred for Americans.

We have to look at Americans and their culture from the eyes of the Muslims. We have freedom to commit many things that are tabu in the Muslim world. Our sexual practices, our women's liberation, our liberalism, our tolerances are Muslim's tabus. It's no wonder they call us the devil nation. when our women expose their bodies and dress skimpily, it is looked at in the Muslim world as very bad. Even the western men dress sometimes exposing their bodies and the Muslims look down on that.

So you see, our world versus theirs is very different. The Muslim radicals are willing to kill innocent people to get their way. They don't see their actions as wrong, they see their actions as striking a blow at the devil nations. Each culture has it's own extremes. There is no middle ground. Our leaders aren't the wise old men like some in the past. Our young are like ships without compasses. The young are confused because they are getting different signals as to the right or wrong way to go. When we say that we have to have a set of morals to guide us, the young say who is going to make these morals? The young want to make their own morals. Yet, when we are young, we do not know the results of our actions as when we are older. The old should know how to make morals because the old have learned from their mistakes and can teach the young how to avoid them.

I see a very confused world, struggling to make any kind of sense in what is going on. It is good to know someone else is nervous about the hatred in the Muslim countries. We should all be nervous.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2004
Fri, 05-27-2005 - 6:11pm
I agree with you, Bink. I think the government does know about the supposed "mishaps" and when they are revealed, put the blame on individuals and not the governement itself. It is funny how Bush tends to look over the overwhelming evidence that we shouldn't be in Iraq for the reasons he chose to go over there for, but acts as though he knows nothing when we degrade the practices of other countries. I saw this with the aftermath of the tsunami too. We ended up doing "good" because of the politics and most of the money contributed to the tsumnami relief fund for America were the everyday people.
The state of our country also is of concern to me. All Americans should have healthcare and be taken care of when they get old, not just people who can afford it. People are starving, not getting healthcare, and not being taken care of because our country is run on greed. We need our money more to be powerful than to be humanitarian. If you notice, in the past when countries have gotten to this point, it has been their demise.
Another thing, are we really a "free country"? It seems to me everyday there are more and more laws forbidding us to do what is our supposed constitutional rights.
This leads us to our education. Yes, we have advanced education, but not for everyone. I learned that it will cost me at least 100,000 dollars per child to send them to school. More people from out of our country get scholarships to go to Ivy League colleges than we do.
Materialism has taken over America and it's sad to say, so has predjudice. We are supposed to be the "melting pot" of the world, but we constantly make fun of people from other countries and/or religions. It seems to have gotten worse since 9/11.
I hate to sound unpatriotic, but I don't blame other countries for the way they feel about us. There have been many times that I would rather move to another country and start over. I believe that having less in the way of cars, money and houses and more in the way of compassion and love would be like paradise to me. It's sad, but starting to sound like a real good plan to me.
I wish everyone realized how lucky we could be living in America if we took more charge of what was going on here.
Just my opinion!
R-
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 05-27-2005 - 6:13pm

Carol, you are right. We need wise leaders who have the know-how to bring people together. Our president is pushing democracy much like the Russians tried to sell Communism. The religious right are insufferable with their extremes.

The American people have been deceived and made to feel fear. When Roosevelt was made president, he said to the people who were going through the Great Depression, "You have nothing to fear but fear itself." Our government has made us fear. That is not the way to accomplish the best results in a people.

It is true, the Brits as a whole, don't like Americans. They also don't know us as a whole. They have misconceived knowledge of what goes on in America. But I have to also say that the Brits are not perfect themselves and before pointing a finger at Americans, they should look at their own faults.

What we need are good leaders.

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